Parents' Oral Health Awareness and Behaviors of their Elementary School Children

초등학생 자녀의 구강보건에 관한 학부모의 인식 및 행동

The purpose of this study was to collect basic data for the development of oral health education program of parents and to encourage their actual interest and participation in school oral health program. The authors surveyed parents' awareness and behaviors about the oral health of their children. The subjects in this study were 193 parents of elementary school children in Seoul. The collected data were analyzed, the obtained results were as follows: 1. Thirty-five percent of the parents investigated paid a regular visit to a dental clinic. The most common tooth brushing time among them was after dinner, the second was after breakfast, and this was followed by before bedtime and before breakfast 2. Ninety-four percent of the parents responded that prevention is necessary, 92.2% had a plan to visit a dental clinic to prevent dental caries, and 60.1% experienced receiving pit and fissure sealants. Ninety-seven percent responded that they did check their children's dental caries. 54.9% checked their children's oral status after tooth brushing. The parents who visit a dental clinic on a regular basis were more likely to check their children's teeth after tooth brushing than those who don't(P<0.05). 3. Eighty eight percent of respondents wanted to keep the fluoride mouth rinse program. 4. It is recommended that an oral health education program be developed for parents to visit dental clinics on a regular basis, to educate as to the right tooth brushing time, and to check out their children's oral status after tooth brushing.